I’m attempting to memorize Scripture again. I go in phases. I tell myself I suck at it. But then, I kind of write a verse down on an index card and put it by my kitchen sink and two days later, I realize that I’ve put another verse to memory. Which is, in my opinion, one of the best spiritual disciplines we can ever put into place.

So, here’s yesterday’s passage, from Isaiah 43:2-3, from memory, no less:

When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
And when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned,
the flames will not set you ablaze,
for I am the Lord your God.

This passage scares the crud out of me and completely comforts me all at the same time. Here’s why. It’s full of promises…just not fun promises. Notice all the “whens” instead of the “ifs”. We will pass through waters, we will pass through rivers, and we will walk through fires. Oh, yay! Awesome!

But here are the deep reassurances that sink into my soul and calm me down when I let them…God will be with us. The rivers won’t make us drown. Not only will be not be burned up, we won’t even be touched by the fire surrounding us. And the best peace offering of all — He who will walk with us is the Lord, and that Lord is our God.

I’m breathing in deeply right now, eyes closed, picturing how these words have played out in my life in the past, how they are now, and how they will when the water and fire comes again. And I can rest assured…I will not drown, I will not be burned. My Lord is with me.